Immunological research, like these other areas, is limited by what drug companies and government agencies, such as National Institutes of Mental Health, are willing to fund. At the moment, they refuse to fund experiments that test the current theory of how vaccines work. They also refuse to fund studies on adverse vaccine effects beyond two to three weeks of administration or in the area of naturally acquired immunity.

According to Obukhanych, the limited research evidence that exists suggests that quarantine is probably more effective than vaccination and, along with improved nutrition, is likely responsible for the overall decrease in deadly infectious diseases.

No Double Blind Studies

Her book begins by explaining how tetanus vaccine works – it actually immunizes patients against the toxin produced by Clostridium tetani, rather than the infectious agent itself. The effectiveness of tetanus toxoid has never been subjective to randomized controlled trial (ie double blind study). This would be viewed as unethical as it would leave the control group unprotected against tetanus. Obukhanych mentions a 1984 study revealing Vitamin C to be an effective alternative treatment of tetanus. Vitamin C treatment could be subjected to a randomized controlled trial, but it would be unlikely to receive funding.

Despite the strong pro-vaccine bias in the research community, Obukhanych offers up a number of laboratory and animal studies that challenge the concept of “immunological memory” and other dogma doctors and public health official disseminate about vaccines. She also examines some of the research pointing to the role “adjuvants” (mostly aluminum salts) play in dangerous allergic and autoimmune responses to vaccines.

Debunking Herd Immunity

She goes on to challenge the notion (with research evidence) that vaccinating children at age one and five with the MMR offers them “herd immunity” against measles, mumps and rubella. By definition, heard immunity only exists when 68% of the population has active antibodies against a specific infection. Most serological tests show that the virus neutralizing capacity that develops in response to MMR only lasts 2-5 years. This means the vast majority of adolescents and adults are unprotected.

Even more concerning, women vaccinated against measles at age five no longer pass protection against measles through their breast milk. Obukhanych believes this explains a significant increase in measles encephalitis in infants since 1990.

Obukhanych also devotes a chapter to a detailed scientific explanation of why flu vaccine is no longer protecting patients against influenza.